[photo: ©Stephen Edge]
Shapwick Station was opened on 28 August 1854 to serve the village which was two miles away. It was a passenger station of some significance in the early days of the railway, as George Warry of Shapwick House was one of the founding Directors of the Somerset Central. Extensive peat traffic developed over the years, some of which was dispatched from the Goods Yard. Nearby was Alexander's Siding which served the Eclipse Peat Company's works (later Fisons) via a 2ft gauge tramway.
From the beginning of operations, facilities at Shapwick were considered to be insufficient. In September 1854, a 50 ft extension to the platform and a privy for the men was deemed necessary. The Bristol & Exeter Railway also laid additional sidings.
In 1862, Shapwick Goods Porter, Windmill, was reported for incivility and irregularity in his accounts. He was reprimanded and removed to the general offices as an Office Porter.
In 1872, Jasper Richards was Stationmaster.
The station burnt down on 25 September 1900. A new structure was soon built in timber. The Southern railway made further alterations after 1923, including the substitution of pre-cast concrete platforms and ramps.
In 1922, it was necessary to make economies. One Signalman was replaced by a Porter-Signalman (saving £7 per annum) and one Porter was made redundant (saving £138 p.a.).
In the 1950s, Fireman Gordon Hatcher remembers stopping at Shapwick with a freight train to cross a passenger train in the loop. He would be sent across to the pub outside the station with an empty tea bottle to get it filled with cider. He says it was just like orangeade.
Goods traffic ceased on 10 June 1963, and the station closed to passengers on 7 March 1966.
By 7 May 1966, the copper telegraph wires had been cut down, the nameboards removed. The Station House had been empty for some time before closure. On 10 February 1968, the Station House was occupied, but track, signals, lineside fittings and the signalbox had all been removed. In 1971, it was observed that the whole station site had been razed to the ground, with the site of the goods yard only partly discernible. The trackbed of the line to Ashcott was in use as a road for access to the peat workings. The old canal lock to the west of Shapwick was still visible.
Web page updated 2 May 2011